By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said a PHP5 million reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of Wenli Gong alias Kelly Tan Lim, a Chinese woman linked to the kidnapping and killing of Filipino-Chinese steel magnate Anson Que and his driver, Armanie Pabillo.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said Lim was identified by two arrested Filipino suspects — Raymart Catequista and Richardo Garcia, as the one who negotiated with Que’s family using the victim’s phone.
Fajardo said the Chinese woman was also used as bait to lure Que and his driver, Armanie Pabillo, “to go to the place.”
“After conducting operational research, we identified this is alias Kelly, and this is precisely the reason kung bakit may nag offer ng (somebody offered) reward for her immediate identification and possible location para malagay natin siya sa (so that we put her in) custody so that we could extract more information that can shed light on this particular case,” Fajardo said.
The PNP said the two Filipino suspects were arrested on April 18 and admitted to strangling Que and Pabillo while David Tan Liao, a Chinese national, surrendered on April 19 and admitted participation in the crime.
Fajardo said the PNP is still gathering information to corroborate Liao’s allegation that Que’s 42-year-old son Ronxian Gou or Alvin Aue, was involved in the killing of his father.
“Maliban doon sa kanyang assertion, wala naman siyang naipapakita pa na ibang ebidensya (Aside from his [Liao] assertion, he did not show other evidence),” Fajardo said.
“We cannot discount the possibility that David Tan Liao is misleading the investigation to cover for someone,” she added.
Fajardo said Alvin Que is cooperating with the Anti-Kidnapping Group and has submitted his cell phone to undergo forensic and scientific processing.
Initial investigation showed that Alvin acted as the family’s negotiator while Anson was held by the kidnappers.
Alvin also transferred the initial PHP10 million ransom to a cryptocurrency account on March 31, followed by another PHP3 million on April 2.
Fajardo said the PNP is now tracing the money trail, including an alleged PHP200 million ransom, to identify other possible players in the case.
Que and Pabillo went missing on March 29 after leaving the former’s office in Valenzuela City.
The following day, Que’s family received a ransom demand of USD20 million through a phone chat application.
Their bodies were found by a roadside in Rodriguez, Rizal, on April 9. (PNA)
